Poultry feeder



L. M. PRATT POULTRY FEEDER Jan. 25 1927;

Filed June 5, 1926 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES LEWIS M. IPRATT, OF

ELDORADO, KANSAS.

POULTRY FEEDER.

Application filed June 3,

This invention relates to a feeder for poultry, one of the objects being to provide a simple, compact and efficient device of this character which can be used either for supplying feed or as a drinking fountain.

A further object is to provide a means whereby the trough for holding the feed or the water is fully protected it being possible, however, to readily separate the parts for the purpose of cleaning or repairing them.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character having means whereby the poultry is prevented from perching on the top thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may Joe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1, one of the closures being shown by broken lines partly opened.

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates end members connected by side strips 2 and mounted on these side strips and end members are outturned flanges 3 formed along the edges of a trough 4 preferably somewhat cylindrical and desi ned to hold either water or feed.

Towels 5 are extended upwardly from the end members 1 and are adapted to project into the lower edges of the end walls 7 of a feed hopper. These end walls have their upper portions V-shaped and supporting roof strips 8 the lower portions of which extend laterally and downwardly beyond the guides of the end walls 7. Downwardly converging bottom strips 9 are interposed between and secured to the end walls 7 and form an outlet opening 10 between their lower ed es located within the upper portion of t e trough 4 when the parts are properly assembled. Closures 11 are hinged- 1926. Serial No. 113,474.

ly connected as at 12 to the side strips 2 and are adapted, when the parts are assembled,

as to allow the poultry to reach into the trough 4 through the openings provided between the strips 2 and 9.

Upwardly converging top strips 13 are adaptedto rest upon the upper portions of the end walls 7 and to lapth e strips 8. These top strips 13 have their end portions connected by cross strips 14 adapted to lap the outer faces of the end walls 7 as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3. To these cross strips 14. and the ends of the top strips 13 are secured upwardly extending bearing strips 15 in which are journaled pins 16 extending from the ends of a guard strip 17. Blades 18 are extended in opposite directions from the longitudinal center of the guard strip 17 and cooperate with said strip to provide a rotatable guard. Obviously should a fowl endeavor to perch upon this guard the same will rotate and dislodge the fowl. Thus it becomes impossible for the fowls to perch upon the structure and, consequently, the same can be kept clean. I

The cover section made up of the strips 13 and end strips 14 can be held fixedly to the end walls 7 by hooks and eyes indicated generally at 19 and hooks and eyes indicated generally at 20 can also be used for fastening the end walls 7 to the end strips 1.

I using this device for feeding chickens, etc., the top section is disconnected from the end walls 7 by releasing the hooks 19 whereupon said section can be lifted off of the strips 8. This will leave a broad opening through which the feed can be poured into the hopper. From the hopper a portion of the feed will gravitate through the opening 10 into the trough 4 where it will spread out so as to be within easy access of the fowls reaching through the openings between the strips 2 and 9. The closures 11 are of course moved outwardly and downwardly to expose the feed. When it is desired to protect the feed these closures are moved to the positions shown by full lines in Figure 2.v

The overhanging strips 8 serve to keep trash and grain from feeding into the trough.

Should it be desired to use the device as a drinking fountain the end walls 7 are disconnected from the end strips 1, trough 4L isemptied ofg'feed and cleaned, Water is poured into the trough, and the-end- Walls 7 are replaced and secured.

Obviously the severalrpartscan" begreaqlily detached for the purpose of making repairs and for cleaning them.

hat is claimed is:

1. A device of the class-described including end and .side strips forming a base, a trough suspended therebet veen and mounted thereon, a hopper;havingend Walls removably mounted on theend strips ofthe frame and downwardly converging bottom strips-projecting into thetrongh, closures .hi-ngedly connected to the side strips and movable-to position against the bottom strips of; the hopper, said trough being spaced from the bottom strips of' thehopper, top strips secured to the ends of the hopper and overhanging the sides ofthe' base frame, and a; removable: top section mounted uponthe Walls, bottom strips connecting the end .walls :and converging downwardly to project into the trough, top strips secured to the end walls and- )1 o-jecting beyond the bottom strips, centering dowels extending. from the end strips and projectingdetachably into the, end walls ofithehop per, closures hingedly connected to the sine strips ofthe base and movable against the-bottomstrips of the hopper, a topsection ,detachably mountedon thetop stripsnndend walls of the hopper, and-a guard mounted for rotation above: and connected to the top section.

Intestimony that I- claim the foregoing as-in-y own, I have hereto. aiiixed my signature.

' LEWVIS M. 'PRAiTT. 

